FORT WORTH, Texas – Four-time All-American and 2019 NCAA Champion Anthony Ashnault finished action at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials held over the weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. Ashnault advanced to the quarterfinals of the 65 kg freestyle bracket and finished his trials 1-2, which included a win over NCAA Champion Nahshon Garrett to open the tournament.
 
Fellow 2019 NCAA Champion Nick Suriano, who also earned a spot at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials as the No. 5 seed at 57 kg, did not compete.
 
Wrestling as the No. 8 seed, Ashnault opened with an 8-2 decision over No. 9 seed Garrett in the first round of the tournament, as he landed three takedowns in the second period to advance. Ashnault then faced No. 1 seed and three-time NCAA Champion Zain Retherford in the championship quarterfinals, and at one point was tied with the former Penn State standout in the second period before he lost, 5-1. Ashnault then bowed out of the tournament with his 12-2 loss to two-time All-American Evan Henderson on the backend of the bracket.
 
Rutgers wrestling's all-time wins leader and 2019 NCAA Champion at 149 pounds, Ashnault secured his trials' spot last year with his freestyle gold medal at the Pan American Championships in Ottawa, Canada. The four-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion finished his senior season in 2018-19 with an unblemished 32-0 record en route to his national title and closed his final season as a Hodge Trophy finalist.
 
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